The Washington Times-Herald

Homepage

Discussion

August 14, 2012

WestGate asks county for property help

By Nate Smith Washington Times Herald

WASHINGTON — The WestGate @ Crane Authority asked the Daviess County Commissioners Monday to help with some less-than-stellar properties around the Tech Park.

Charles Selby, Executive Director of the park, said there are three properties on the entrance to the park — an abandoned gas station, oil storage facility and an abandoned school — that Selby said are not impressing new businesses in the park.

“We’ve made attempts with these people about purchasing the properties,” Selby said. “We’ve not got anywhere with that. It’s an exorbitant amount they want or they do not want to do anything with them.”

Selby asked the commissioners to apply leverage to the owners of the properties to clean them up.

“I think it is going to make a big difference there at the park,” Selby said.

According to Selby, WestGate has over $70 million in private investment, over 850 jobs and $55 million in payroll a year. The tech park is also finishing work on a convention center and a battery innovation center and  hotel are getting ready to break ground.

After Selby’s presentation, the commissioners discussed what they could do, including condemning properties. But there were environmental concerns.

“I don’t think we want to take on those properties because of (environmental cleanup),” Commissioner Tony Wichman said.

The commissioners then decided to have County Attorney Grant Swartzentruber to look into their options, including possible condemnation.

Selby said the owners of the properties include Van Hoy Construction of Loogootee for the school, Jones Oil Company for the storage sites and Bill Hartsburg of Scotland for the gas station.

Health Ordinance

The commissioners passed a revised health ordinance that will move funds away from state control and place them locally.

County Health Nurse Kathy Sullender said the ordinance will move money from administrative fees collected at local shot clinics from a “local health maintenance fund,” to a the “county general health fund.”

Sullender said this way, the county and not the state will be in control of what is spent.

“Our goal is to take these dollars and put it into the local vaccination program,” Sullender said. “A lot of middle class Americans who have health insurance cannot afford to vaccinate their children.”

The commissioners approved the first reading of the ordinance.

Bridge Update

Highway Superintendent Phil Cornelius and Swartzentruber gave progress on the overhead railroad bridge on S.E. 15th Street in Washington.

Swartzentruber said CSX Transportation acknowledged they do own the bridge after a notice to sue was sent by  the county last month. He said they are willing to deal.

“What we would want to get it out of their hands,” Swartzentruber said.

Cornelius said he has talked with bridge engineers to get some kind of idea how much it will cost to bring the bridge back to acceptable standards. He said there are several options, including applying for federal aid and having CSX pay for the matching funds. The city of Washington, Swartzentruber said, were also ready to help with the bridge.

Swartzentruber said there was an offer 15 years ago for $150,000, but was not answered. Since then, the bridge has deteriorated and was damaged by a CSX train last year.

The commissioners instructed Swartzentruber to start negotiating at $500,000 and include all options, including federal aid.

Text Only
Local News
Obituaries
Local Sports
The "Z" Watch
Must Read
Entertainment
State News
Featured Ads
Facebook
Community Calendar
Loading…
Events by eviesays.com
Poll

Do you have a Summer weather prediction?

Hot drought (like 2012
Wet
Seasonal and pleasant
     View Results
AP Video
Tornadoes, Storms Strike Midwest 'Babyland': Camp Lejeune's Toxic Legacy? Raw: Heavy Tornado Damage in Shawnee, Okla Probe Begins After Conn. Commuter Trains Crash NTSB Begins Investigation Into Conn. Train Crash Lotto Fever Sweeps the Country Conn. Commuter Trains Collide; 60 Go to Hospital Coffee Run Leads to Hatchet Hitchhiker Arrest Fmr. IRS Head Insists No Politics in Targeting CDC: Fecal Bacteria Common in Swimming Pools $1 Million in Jewels Stolen at Cannes Film Fest NM Mom Chases Down Child Abductor Raw: Crash Sends Car Into Fla. Pool Raw: Obama Sits Down With Elementary Kids Raw: Bear Falls From Tampa Tree Ousted IRS Chief: Errors Not Caused by Politics Terror Suspect Due in Court in Idaho Friday Raw: Driver Ejected From Truck, Over Bridge Could Tobacco Be the Next Biofuel? Wash. State Releases Draft Rules for Legal Pot
Clicker Ticker
Hyperlocal Search
Premier Guide
Find a business

Walking Fingers
Maps, Menus, Store hours, Coupons, and more...
Premier Guide